Freshmen Aguilar, March help Oaks Christian girls golf team get past Harvard-Westlake

With their respective league tournaments scheduled for next week and the postseason starting Oct. 28, the girls golf teams at Harvard-Westlake and Oaks Christian wanted to take advantage of being in a competitive environment Monday in order to solidify their lineups for the regular-season stretch run.

Although the match ended in the dark at Camarillo Springs Golf Course, it was an enlightening round for Oaks Christian, which saw a pair of freshmen continue to strengthen their case to compete in the postseason following their efforts for the Lions in a 211-236 victory.

Brigitte Dunne shot 2-over 37, including a 15-foot uphill birdie putt on the ninth hole to cap her round, but it was the Lions’ depth that enabled them to overcome the absence of Christiana Ritchie and Kasia Rudnicki in order to defeat the Wolverines (5-2), who were missing Kate Kushi.

Shaya Aguilar and Hannah March, despite playing in the last group and putting on the ninth hole under the moonlight, both shot 44s for Oaks Christian (12-1) to support 43s from Jesse Haraden and Juliet Ponte.

“It’s been my goal since the beginning of the season to be in the top six (for the postseason), but since I’m a freshman, it won’t be overly disappointing if I don’t,” Aguilar said. “I’ve been feeling more confident with my swing and I’m not thinking a lot when I’m standing over the ball about my overall score, I’m just focused on each individual shot.”

Maddy Abrahams, despite recording 17 putts, led Harvard-Westlake with a 41. Vivienne Lin added a 45 and Paula Lahera contributed a 48 for the Wolverines.

Lauren Song, who played in the first group with Abrahams, Dunne and Ponte, overcame a five-putt score of eight on the first hole to finish with a 47, including only 11 putts over the final eight holes.

Dunne, a leading contender for the Tri-Valley League title Oct. 23 along with La Reina’s Divya Manthena, was disappointed with her putting and wedge play but still managed to finish four strokes ahead of the field.

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“I think I play better under pressure, so I’m looking forward to (the postseason),” Dunne said. “For me, it’s all mental and it has been the entire season. I know the mistakes I’m making are fixable, so it’s just frustrating when I keep making them. I just can’t let one bad shot affect me on the next shot or the next hole.”

It was the first meeting for the teams since last year’s Southern Section Northern Team Divisional at Soule Park Golf Club in Ojai, when Harvard-Westlake finished second behind Mission League rival Notre Dame to secure its first trip to the section final since 2001 and Oaks Christian placed fifth.

The teams are expected to meet again at the divisional Oct. 31 at Soule Park.

Harvard-Westlake is scheduled to compete in the Mission tournament next Monday at Harding Golf Course and Oct. 24 at River Ridge Golf Club’s Vineyard Course in Oxnard.

Oaks Christian is playing the Tri-Valley tournament next Monday at River Ridge’s Lakes Course and Oct. 23 on the Vineyard Course in preparation for the Oct. 28 Northern Individual Regional.